H f glunz



March 10, 1936. H F, GLUNZ Re. 19,886 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SEALING CLOSURES TO BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Original Filed April 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet -l 9 3 37 24 :9 so 36 7 32 A I8 I (1') 2s 55 as as a z y '25 36 5 n M 26 I6 H j 26 5 28' 21 2'! g g y-& INVENTOR HENRY F. GLUNZ H i I A i @Y LQ 9 Z I ZJ IQRNEYs' March 10, 1936. F, GLUNZ Re. 19,886

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SEALING CLOSURES T0 BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Original Filed April 14. 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N {iii-1 2| H l0 2| 22 2.4- 22 l Z4 m 2/ 2 21 4 ;/2| as ZO- 2 as d 2s 7 1 5 S/l/ZL l6 :1 M L' zs 2 4 Z Z6 Z1 Z6 22 24 2 5 a 22 I I 3 I 2 52 x9 4 4 3a 7 h 19 3| 31 fm 53 2 C 34 35 2 5a Q J6 2s v 25 5 Z5 Z6 15 n H. z 26 INVENTOR L V HENRY F. GLUNZ 28 March 10, 1936. H. ,F. GLUNZ Re. 19,886

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SEALING CLOSURES TO BOTTLES AND OTHER, CONTAINERS Original Filed April 14. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I :1 2| 22 as K 24 4 37 H 18 so 5'! l9 a; I m K 1 i|i 33 5h m 20 H xi 3 I M Z 36" H I L/ INVENTOR HENRY F. GLUNZ LLO A TORNEYS Reissued Mar. 10, 1936 This invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for applying sealing closures to bottles and other containers and more particularly closures formed from a cellu- 5 lose acetate compound.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for applying sealing 5 closures of this nature to bottles and containers of various sorts, which is simple in operation and 10 structure, easily carried out and operated, and

efllcient in effecting the application of the closure so that a liquid tight and air tight seal of the contents in the bottle or container is produced.

A further object of the invention is to proreferred to wherein the cellulose acetate sealing closure, 'while being applied to the bottle or con- 20 and smoothly drawn over the open end of the bottle or container and then will be subjected to an external flexible and resilient pressure v combined with the application of heat so that it is caused to have a tight conforming and J molded application to the neck of the bottle or container.

' vide a method and apparatus of the nature referred to wherein the cellulose acetate sealing o closure, while being applied to the bottle or container, will be acted upon so that its outer peripheral edge zone will be subjected to a flexible heat of an increasing temperature so that it will first become pressed into a conformingand molded at with the exterior surface of the neck of the bottle or container and finally become iuzed with said surface.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

.,The invention, consists substantially in the steps, modes of operation, combination of elements and details of arrangement of parts, all 45 as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as

shown in the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

an illustrative structure and apparatus for embddymg the principles of my invention and the manner of operating the samein carrying out my new and improvedmethod and wherein,-

-F1gure 1 is a broken view in vertical section of an apparatus adapted for carrying out my invention and showing the container in the form vide a method and apparatus of the nature above tainer, is first acted upon so that it will be tightly A further object of the invention is to proand resilient pressure and the application'of a 1 1n the accompanying drawings 1 have shown. a

PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLY- ING SEALING CLOSURES TO BOTTLES AND OTHER. CONTAINERS Henry F. Glunz, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Robert M. McMullen, New York,

Original No. 2,013,304, dated September 3, 1935, Serial No. 720,560, April 14, 1934. Application for reissue January 22, 1936, Serial No. 60,332

23 Claims. (01. 226-83) of a bottle in position for application of a sealing closure of the open end thereof.

Figure 2 is a broken detail view in section, illustrating a form of mechanism, which may be employed for stamping out the closure blanks of 5 cellulose acetate material which are to be applied to the container.

Figure 3 is a view of the closure applying mechanism of the apparatus and showing the parts thereof after the bottle has beeen lifted into position for its open end to contact with a blank of cellulose acetate material which is to constitute the closure.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the parts in their. respective positions as the bottle has been advanced further upwards with respect to the closure applying mechanism of the closure applying apparatus.

Figure 5 is a view showing the position of the parts after the bottle has been further advanced 2o upwardly with respect to theh closure applying mechanism.

Figure 6 is a view similiar to Fig. 5 and showing the parts'in their respective positions after upwardly with respect to the closure applying mechanism has been completed,

Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and showing. the parts in their respective positions after the closure applying and sealing mechanism has completed its work and the bottle with the closure applied thereto is ready to be removed from the closure applying mechanism.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views. Y

In carrying out the objects of my invention I propose to use blanks made from'thin sheets of cellulose acetate material for the closures for the bottles or containers. The size of these blanks should be such that when they are ap- 40 plied to the opening of the bottle or other container they will have an outer peripheral edge portion that will be adapted to be folded down on the outside of the neck of the bottle or container. These blanks may be shaped by hand or by any suitable stamping device.

In Fig. 2 ofthe drawings I have indicated suitable mechanism that may be employed for automatically stamping out the closure blanks from a sheet of cellulose acetate material. This mechanism comprises a die punch designated at l which is adapted to cooperate with a die plate shown in Fig. 2 and which cuts a circular blank disc 2 out of a sheet of cellulose acetate material indicated at 9. In the particular bla nk cutting mechanism as illustrated the die punch is supported and reciprocated from a sleeve 6 and is removably held therein by a screw I. When the die punch is actuated to stamp out the circular blank 2 by suitable operating mechanism (not shown) the said blank is caused to be dislodged from the die and to be placed on the ledge 4 of a disc holding ring 5 by means of a pad 3 supported on the stem 8 which is reciprocally mounted in the blank forming mechanism. After the stamped out circular blank 2 of the cellulose acetate material has been placed in the disc holding ring 5, the ring is caused to be moved to the closure applying mechanism in any suitable manner and positioned with respect to mechanism as indicated in Fig. 1. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 1 that when the disc holding ring has been properly positioned with respect to the closure applying mechanism the closure disc of cellulose acetate material is supported over and centered with respect to the mouth of the bottle or container to which the closure disc is to be applied.

In Fig. l of the drawings, the bottle to which a closure is to be applied is shown supported in position with respect to the closure applying mechanism. The bottle is brought into proper position under the closure applying mechanism by suitable means indicated generally at 5 The bottle is so positioned under the closure applying mechanism that the open end of the neck portion thereof is presented toward the central portion of the cap blank 2 and in opposed relation to a central cup or plunger III of the closure applying mechanism. The cup or plunger I0 is carried by a rod I I. The rod I I works loosely in a sleeve I2 and may be actuated in any suitable manner in proper timed relation as by means of the connections I3 and I4.

A spring I5 serves to permit the tubular'cup. or plunger III to yield against the action of said spring for movement lengthwise with respect to the sleeve I2.

The closed end of the cup member or plunger Ill cooperates with the end surface of the bottle neck to constitute in effect a clamp to clamp the closure blank 2 between them as indicated in Fig. 3. The closed end of the cup or plunger ,III is provided with a rubber ring member I6. This rubber ring I6 due to its resilient nature permits the closed end of the plunger cup .III to make the material of the closure blank conform with any variation that might exist in the surface of the mouth of the bottle when the closure blank is clamped to the bottle mouth by said plunger. The closed end of the cup or plunger I I! is'also formed with a vent opening H which permits the escape of any moisture which might accumulate on the top of the closure blank due to the operations of the mechanism which will be more fully hereinafter described.

ber, mounted within the same and in such a manner that it forms a third chamber 32. The rubber ring 2I is mounted in the closure applying head so that its upper and lower edges are rigidly anchored to the same by means of the clamping collars 22 and 23. The clamping collars 22 or lu and an upward movement is given to the and '23 are secured to the closure applying head I8 by'means of the screws 24,24 and 25, 25.

The clamping collar 22 is so shaped that Its inner edge engages with the side of and forms a guide for the plunger cup member Ill. The lower clamping collar 23 is so constructed that its inner edge portion forms an opening of a suflicient diameter that it will permit the entry of the bottle neck into the closure applying head. The lower clamping collar 23 is also provided with a rubber ring 26 formed with an inclined face 21. The rubber ring 26 is secured to clamping collar 23 by means of screws 28, 28' and provides a resilient guide for the neck of the bottle as it is advanced upwardly into the closure applying apparatus. The ring 26 also serves as a resilient means for causing the outer peripheral edge portion of the cellulose acetate closure blank to be folded against the side of the bottleneck as the bottle is moved up into the closure applying head.

The chamber I9 formed in the closure applying head is provided with .a threaded opening 29. Threaded in this opening is a steam inlet and exhaust pipe 30. The chamber I3 is also formed with an opening 3| which communicates with the chamber 32 formed in the closure applying head by the flexible rubber ring 2|.

The'chamber 20 formed in the closure applying head is provided with a threaded opening 33 in which is threaded a pipe 34. The chamber 20 is also formed with ports or openings 35 which communicate with the chamber 32 formed by the flexible rubber 2 I.

The steam inlet and exhaust pipe 30 leading to chamber I9 is provided with a three way valve 38 which is adapted to control the entry of steam into said pipe and chamber and also which is adapted to control the opening andclosing of an exhaust conduit 38.

The pipe 34 leading from chamber 20 is provided with a relief valve 33 which may be of any well known type of construction, such for instance as the one illustrated in Fig. 5, at H. In the relief valve illustrated a weight lll is provided which is adjustable on a bar I. The bar 4| is pivoted at 42 and controls the movement of the stem 43 which regulates the opening and closing of therelief valve in casing 44.

Steam is supplied under pressure to chamber I9 of the closure applying head through a pipe 31 and the pressure thereof is regulated by an automatic operation of the three way valve 33. I have indicated in Figs. 1 and 5 the mechanical connections 36 and 3G for operating the three way control valve. The valve as previously stated is operated automatically and in proper timed relation with respect to the advancing movement of the bottle neck into the closure applying head.

The operation of the closure operating mechanism and the method employed for effecting an air tight and liquid tight application of thecellulose acetate closure blank to the bottle or container will now be described.

With the bottle to which the closure is to be applied, in the position indicated at Fig. 1, and with the parts of the closure applying mechanism in their respective normal positions as indicated in said figure, a downward movement is caused to be imparted to the rod II of the cup or plungbottle. Such movements cause the closed end of the cup member Ill to clamp the closure blank 2 between it and the end surface of the bottle neck. The rubber ring IS in the closed end of the cup plunger causes the material of the closure blank to become adjusted to any irregularities that might be present in the end surface of the bottle neck when said clamping action ls effected. The position of the parts of the closure applypleted is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

mitted to pass through the three way valve 36 and to enter and circulate in the chambers I9, 20 and 32 and consequently theclosure applying head casting and the rubber ring 2| are caused to be. warmed up or heated. The heat supplied to the closure applying head casting by saidsteam is also transmitted to the rubber guide ring 28 which is secured to the collar 23 by the screws 28, 2B.

The bottle neck is then caused to be gradually further advanced upwardly into the closure applying head and the cup member ID of the closure applying apparatus while holding the closure blank against the mouth of the bottle and without release of its clamping action is caused to be moved upwardly in the capping head casting against the pressure of the spring it.

During the upward movement of the bottle neck into the capping head the volume and pressure of the entering steam is increased so that the rubber ring II is caused to be extended and so that its extended diameter is slightly less than the diameter of the bottle neck. Therefore, as the bottle neck is further progressed upwardly said ring will frictionally engage the closure material and cause it to envelop said neck and shape itself to conform with the exterior of said neck.

In Fig. 4, the top portion of the neck of the plying head. It will be noted that during this further upward movement of the bottle neck the heated rubber ring 26 of the closure applying head engages with the skirt portion of the cellulose acetate closure blank and causes the same to be folded downwardly in a crimped or pleated manner and in a direction towards the on r surface of the bottle neck. The heated condi on of the ring 26 causes it to soften the cellulose acetate material of the skirt portion of the closure blank and reduce it to p. molding state, and the intened pleated folds of the skirt portion effects an ironing out of said folds so that they will lay in a pressed intimate contact with the surface of the bottle neck.

In Fig. 4 it is also shown that at this stage of the operation of the apparatus, only a small volume of steam is permitted to enter the compartments of the.closure applying head through the valve 36 and that therefore only enough heat and pressure-is supplied to the apparatus to make itpossible for the parts thereof to become warmed sumciently to reduce the material of the skirt portion of the, closure blank to a softened molding state and to effect a pressing of said softened cellulose acetate material to the bottle neck. In Fig. 5 the bottle neck is shown as having been advanced upwardly into the closure applying head to a point where the top portion thereof is adjacent to the opening II in the chamber l9. During the movement of the bottle neck up to this position, the rubber ring 2| whichhasbeen pressure that has been so far introduced into the closure applying head has continuously and fricing mechanism when the clamping action is com- Prior to the clamping of the closure blank to I .the bottle neck, steam, at a low pressure, is perbottle is indicated as just entering the closure apclined face 21 of said ring as it, engages the sofsufficiently extended by reason of the steamtionally engaged with the pleated folds formed in the skirt portion of the closure blank and has completed the pressing of said folds into a molding contact with the exterior contour of the bottle neck.

By the time the top of the bottle has reached the position in the closure applying head as shown in Fig. 5 the valve controlling means for controlling the supply of steam to chamber l9 is caused to be operated so that it is opened to its widest extent and so that a full pressure of the heated steam is permitted to .enter said chamber. The heated steam under full pressure after entering chamber l9 passes out of said chamber in a concentrated stream through the passage 3| and into chamber 32. The downwardly inclined directional shape of passage 3! causes the steam to be directed downwardly and at an angle into chamber 32 and so that it is directed against the rubber ring 2i at a point adjacent to where the passage 3i communicates with chamber 32. This continuous concentrated stream of steam combined with the increased pressure exerted on the ring II 'at this point causes the heated cellulose material of the closure blank to become heated and compressed to such an extent as the bottle is further advanced upwardly that said closure material will become fused with the surface of the bottle neck.

After the bottle neck has had the cellulose acetate closure completely applied thereto in the manner above indicated, as shown in Fig. 6, the supply of steam under pressure is cut off by a suitable operation of the three way valve 36 and the exhaust pipe 38 is opened to communication with chamber I9 to permit the steam which has been used to extend rubber ring 2| and to apply the concentrated heated pressure as above explained, to be exhausted, thereby releasing the flexible ring from contact with the closure and the bottle neck and permitting the bottle with the closure applied to it to be withdrawn from the closure applying head. If desirable and to insure the removal of the flexible rubber ring from liability of contacting with any surface while the bottle is being withdrawn and while a new bottle is being inserted. instead of relying on theexhaust of the steam pressure medium, the closure applying head may be connected through pipe 38 with a vacuum and thereby the closure applying head may be quickly relieved of all pressure tending to distend the rubber ring.

During the introduction of the steam to chambers l9 and 32 the condensation of the steam will have a tendency to settle in the lower portion of chamber 32,. Such condensation and also any surplus steam that may be built up in the said chamber is permitted to escape through the ports 35 into the chamber 20 of the closure applying head and thence out through the discharge pipe 34. The relief valve connected in said discharge pipe regulates the opening and closing of the said pipe when a certain predetermined pressure is built up in the apparatus andit to be expanded inwardly into the bottle neck. In order to prevent this from occurring the cup member III is provided with a port or opening II which permits any moisture that may form on the top of the closure material to escape therethrough when the mechanism or the closure applying apparatus is operated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen thatI provide an exceedingly simple and eflicient method of application of a cellulose acetate sealing closure to receptacles and I have also provided an exceedingly simple and eflicient form of apparatus capable of use in carrying out my invention. While I have described a specific form of apparatus for carrying out the process and while I have shown the application of the principles of my invention to the capping of botties, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit or confine myself to the use of any particular type or structure of mechanism for carrying out my process, nor to any specific detail of the mechanical structure, except as hereinafter set forth in the claims. It is equally obvious that the principles of my invention are suitable for use in the application of other types of structures of caps or closures and to other structures of receptacles or containers.

When reference has hereinbeen made to fusing the material of the closure cap to the container, it is understood that what is meant thereby is that when the material is subjected to the necessary heat the material will become closely adhesive to the surface of the container and will enter into the minute indentations and crevices therein in a manner which is impervious to air. In this sense fusion between the capping material and the surface of the container is obtained.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. The method of applying a sealing closure to containers which consists in preliminarily applying the closure by stretching the central portion thereof over the mouth of the container and bending the outer peripheral zone portion over the crown of said container, then subjecting the bent over outer peripheral zone portion to an elastic heated pressure to force the same into a conforming fit with the exterior shape of the sides of the container, and then finally subjecting the bent over portion, progressively throughout its length, to a concentrated and increased elastic pressure and a welding heat, to effect a fused application thereof to the container.

2. The method of applying sealing closures to containers which consists in positioning a container with respect to the closure, centering the closure over the mouth of the container, folding the outer peripheral'edge zone of the closure over the crown of the container, then subjecting the folded edge zone portion to an elastic heated pressure to force the same into a conforming fit with the exterior shape of the sides of the container, then applying an increased elastic and heated pressure to the folded compressed portion of the closure to effect a fused application of the same to the exterior surface of the container, then withdrawing the pressure.

3. The method of applying sealing closures to containers which consists in centering the closure over the mouth of the container, then pleating and folding the outer peripheral edge zone of the closure over the crown of the container and during the pleating and folding operation warming .the material of said pleats to a molding temperaof to a plastic state and to press the same into a conforming fit with the sides of the container,

then increasing the heat and the pressure to il cause said material of the folded portion to beformed of a sheet of cellulose acetate material ture, then subjecting said folded heated pleats to an elastic pressure to bring the same into a conforming contact with the sides of the container, and then progressively throughout the length of the compressed folded pleats applying thereto a concentrated welding heat and an increased pressure to effect a'weldedfor fused andconforming application of the material of said pleats to the container.

4. The method of applying sealing closures to containers which consists in preliminarily folding the closure over the mouth of the container and during the folding operation subjecting the folded portion to the action of heat of a sufl'lcient degree to reduce the sameto a moldable state andthen compressing the folded portion against the sides of the container by means of an elastic heated pressure suflicient to force the same into a final conforming and sealing position and to effect a fusedapplication thereof with the sides of the container.

5. The method of applying sealing closures to containers which consists in folding the closure over the mouth of the container and then applying an elastic heated pressure to the folded portion to compress the same into conformation with the shape of the container, then applying an increased elastic and heated pressure to the folded compressed portion to effect a fused application of the material thereof to the exterior surface of the container.

6. The method of applying closures made from a sheet of cellulose acetate material to containers which consists in preliminarily applying the closure by stretching the same over the mouth of the container and bending the outer peripheral zone thereof over the crown of the said container, then subjecting the bent over outer peripheral zone portion to an elastic heated pressure suflicient to reduce the cellulose acetate material of said zone portion to a plastic state and to mold the same into a conforming fit with the sides of the container and then progressively applying to said molded material of said closure 4 throughout the length an increased elastic pressure at a fusing temperature so as to produce a fused application thereof to the sides of the container.

7. The method of applying closures formed of 5 heating the folded portion and then subjecting 5 the folded portion to an increased heat and to an elastic pressure to reduce the material therecome fused to the sides of the container.

8. The method of applying a sealing closure to containers which consists of first clamping the 6 central portion of said sheet of material over the mouth of the container, then causing the unclamped portion to be folded over the crown'of the container and compressed against the sides thereof and during the folding and compressing 7 operation providing the material of the folded and compressed portion of the sheet, first, with a heat and pressure sufilcient to reduce it to a plastic state and to cause it to have a molded application to the exterior surface of the com 7 sides thereof, pressing operation heating the material so that and then finally subjecting fusing temperature and thereagainst to causesaid folded material to become fused .to the sides of the container.

cient to cause it to become fused with the exterior surface of the container.

9. The method of applying a sealing closure formed of a sheet of cellulose acetate material to containers, which consists of first clamping the central portion of said sheet of material over the mouth of the container, then causing the unclamped portion to be folded over-the crown of the container and to be compressed against the and during this folding and comit is reduced to a plastic state, then applying an increased pressure and heat to the compressed folded portion so that the material thereof will become fused with the exterior surface of the container.

10. The method of making and applying sealed closures to receptacles which consists of forming blanks of thin sheets of cellulose material, then centering said blanks over the mouth of a receptacle to be sealed and closed,'then clamping the central portion of the blank against the mouth of the receptacle, then folding the unclamped portion over the crown of the receptacle and against the sides thereof, then subjecting the folded portion to a resilient heated pressure to reduce the same to a plastic condition and to press the same into a molded application with the sides of the container, then increasing the temperature applied to the material of the folded portion, and also the resilient pressure to effect a fused application of the material to the sides of the container.

11. The method of applying a'closure formed of a sheet of cellulose material which consists in first subjecting the sheet of cellulose acetate material to the expansive action of a gaseous medium in a heated condition to force the material of said sheet into conformation with the shape of the-container to which the closure is to be applied, the material of said sheet to an increased expansive action of said gaseous medium and at a higher temperature to eflect a fusing of the material of said sheet to the exterior surface of the container. 7

12. The method of making and applying closures on containers which comprises forming blanks of thin sheets of transparent cellulose acetate material, then centering the same over the mouth of a container, then supplying the peripheral zone of the blanks with pleated folds at a temperature suflicient to soften the transparent cellulose material and bending said folds over the crown of the container, then compressing said folds against the sides of the container at a molding temperature and finally increasing the temperature of the compressed folded material to a increasing the pressure '13. The method of making and sealing closures on containers which comprises forming blanks of thin sheets of cellulose acetate material, susmouth of the container to be closed and sealed beneath said blank, then folding the peripheral sides of the container and at the same time warming the material thereof to a molding temperature, then heating the compressed material of said folded compressed portion to its fusing temperature and applying an increased pressure through- 9,886 tainer, and finally, with a heat and pressure sumpending the closureblank, then centering thezone of said blank over the crown of the container, -then compressing said folded portion against the out its length to cause a fusing of the material to the sides of the container.

14. In an apparatus for applying a sheet of 1 cellulose acetate to a container to provide a sealing closure therefor, means for resiliently clamp ing and maintaining the central portion of said sheet over the mouth of the container as the closure is being applied, heated resilient means for folding the unclamped portion of said closure sheet over the crown and against the sides of the container, heated resilient means for compressing said folded portion into a conforming fit with respect to the sides of the container, -and means for providing said last mentioned heated resilient means with an increasing heat and pressure during the compressing operation to initially reduce the cellulose acetate materialo'f the folded portion of said closure sheet to aplastic and moldable state so that it will conform to the exterior contour of the container sides, and finally, so that the said material will become fused or welded tothe surface of the receptacle.

15. In an apparatus for applying a sheet of cellulose acetate to a container to provide a sealing closure therefor, resilient means for folding the outer peripheral edge zone of said closure forming sheet over the crown of the container, heated resilient means for compressing the folded peripheral edge zone into a conforming fit with the exterior contour of the sides of the container, and means for providing said last mentioned heated resilient means with an additional pressure and an increased heated temperature to effect a fusing application of the folded compressed portion of said cellulose acetate sheet to the sides of the container.

16. In an apparatus for applying a sheet of cellulose acetate material to a container to provide a sealing closure therefor, means for folding the outer peripheral edge zone of said closure forming sheet over the crown of the container and against the sides thereof, means comprising a ring of resilient material for compressing the folded peripheral edge zone into a conforming fit, with'the exterior contour of the sides of the container, means for permitting steam to apply the necessary pressure to said ring of resilient material to .cause it to perform the compressing operation and also to-cause it to heat the cellulose acetate material of said folded portion so as to reduce it to a" plastic state during the compressing operation, and also for increasing the heated temperature of said ring and the pressure thereof so that said cellulose acetate material will be fused to the sides of the container during the compressing action of the resilient ring.

17. In an apparatus for applying a closure formed of a sheet of cellulose acetate material to a container, a closure applying head adapted to receivethe open end of the container, resilient means secured to said head for effecting the'folding of the outer peripheral edge zone of the closure sheet over the crown of the container, as it is advanced into said head, a ring. of resilient material secured in said head and adapted to compress the folded outer peripheral zone portion of the closure sheet against the sides of the container and with a conforming fit. therewith, means for permitting steam to enter said head behind said ring to apply heat and pressure thereto, and means formed in said head for directing and concentrating the flow of incoming steam against said ring so that a greater peripheral and an increased heat is produced at a predetermined position of said ring than is provided at other portions thereof.

18. In an apparatus for applying and sealing closures on containers, a closure applying head, means for suspending a closure blank comprised of a thin sheet of'cellulose acetate material in position with respect to said head, and above the mouth of a container to be closed and sealed, means for moving the container upwardly in a vertical direction into said head, resilient heated means secured to said head for guiding said container in its upward movement and for warming and frictionally enfolding the closure blank about the mouth of the container, a resilient ring member mounted in said head and adapted to frictionaily close on the folded portion of said blank and to resiliently compress the material thereof into a conforming fit with the exterior surface of the container, means for providing a heated pressure to said resilient ring member during its compressing action to cause it to reduce the material of the folded portion to a plastic state and to mold the material to the sides of the container, means in said head for directing a concentrated pressure at a fusing temperature against said ring member to cause it to fuse the material of the folded'compressed portion of the closure blank to the sides of the container.

19. In an apparatus for applying and sealing closures made of blanks of cellulose acetate material, on containers, a closure applying head, means for suspending a closure blank with respect to said head and above the mouth of a. container to be closed and sealed, means for moving the container upwardly in said closure applying head, means in said head for efiectir'ig a folding of the closure blank about the mouth of the container, means associated with said head for resiliently compressing the folded portion of the closure blank into contact with the sides of the container, means for providing said resilient compressing means with a heated pressure suflicient to reduce the cellulose acetate material of the folded portion to a plastic state and to mold it to the side surface of the container, means in said head for providing a concentrated pressure at a fusing temperature directed to said resilient compressing means to cause it to fuse the molded plastic material of the folded portion of the closure blank to the sides of the container.

20. An apparatus for applying cellulose acetate closures to bottles comprising a closure applying head, adapted to receive the neck of the bottle, to which the closure is to be applied, a flexible rubber ring in said head adapted to embrace the necks of the bottles, a compression chamber around said rubber ring, means for admitting steam under pressure to said chamber and against said flexible rubber ring in a concentrated downwardly directed stream, means for exhausting said steam from said chamber while the neck of the bottle is within the closure applying head, and means for permitting the escape of an excess amount of steam in said chamber.

21. An apparatus for applying cellulose acetate closures to bottles, comprisingia closure applying head adapted to have positioned therein a closure bottle neck, and means for regulating the force blank of said cellulose material and alsgadapted to receive the neck of the bottle to hlch the closure is to be applied, a flexible rubber ring adapted to surround the neck of the bottle within the head and to frictionally apply the closure to the bottle neck, a pressure chamber around said ring, means for admitting steam under pressure to said chamber to force said ring against the neck of the bottle and so that it will apply said closure thereto, means for permitting said steam to be exhausted from said chamber, while the neck of the bottle is within the closure applying head, means for'automaticallypermitting an excess amount of steam pressure in said chamber to be discharged therefrom, and means in said head to resiliently hold said closure in centered clamped relation over the mouth of said container during the applying action of said flexible rubber ring.

22. An apparatus for applying cellulose acetate closures to bottles comprising a closure applying head adapted to receive the neck of a bottle to which the closure is to be applied, means for pcsitioning a closure with respect to said head, a flexible rubber ring in said head adapted to embrace the said closure and the neck of the bottle and to apply the closure to said neck, a compression chamber around said rubber ring, means for admitting steam under pressure to said chamher, and against said flexible rubber ring in a a concentrated downwardly directed stream to force said rubber ring against the closure and of the concentrated and downwardly directed steam pressure admitted to said chamber. 23. In an apparatus for applying a closure formed of a sheet of cellulose material to a container, a closure applying head adapted to receive the open end of the container, means for positioning a sheet of cellulose acetate material with respect to said head and theopen end of the container, resilient means secured to said head for effecting a folding of the outer peripheral edge zone of the closure sheet over the crown of the container, as it is advanced into said head, 4 a closed chamber in said head formedpf a ring of resilient material and adapted to engage with and compress the folded outer peripheral edge zone of the closure sheet into a conforming lit with the exterior surface of the container, a fur- 5 ther chamber formed in said head, means for supplying steam under pressure to said chamber, a passage formed in said chamber for permitting said steam under pressure to be directed in a concentrated stream into the chamber-formed by the ring of resilient material and against the said ring, a further chamber formed in said head and having openings therein, communicating with the chamber formed by said ring, a pipe communicating with said last mentioned chamber to pera nut the escape of excess steam from said chamber and means associated with said pipe for regu lating the escape of steam therethrough, and means associated with the first mentioned steam chamber formed insaid head for exhausting the a steam from the chambers formed in said head.

HENRY F. GLUNZ. 

